Justice for Labor Rights Advocates in Bangladesh

Photo: Babul Akhter and
Kalpona Akter.

Bangladesh employs 4 million garment workers in 5,000 garment factories that produce US$12.59 billion in export earnings, representing 78% of the countrys total. Contributing nine percent of the gross domestic product, the industry is directly or indirectly responsible for the employment of 24 million people.

The minimum wage is $37/month or less than $10/week. This equals around 20 cents an hour, the lowest wage, by far, of any major garment producing country. Studies show that this wage fails to cover the cost of the minimum nutritional needs of even a single worker, let alone her family.

Winter 2010-2011

Spring 2012

 Union organizer Aminul Islam is brutally tortured and murdered, allegedly by Bangladesh government security forces. Lack of progress in the investigation spurs concerns of impunity and cover-up to protect security forces as workers and labor leaders fear for their safety.

Summer 2013

 The US government suspends Bangladesh's GSP status. The government of Bangladesh announces that the criminal charges targeting Kalpona Akter, Babul Akhter and several other labor rights advocates will be dropped. Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity's registration status is restored by the government of Bangladesh.